Automatic analyzer using a sample container having an information recording member

ABSTRACT

A sample is contained in a sample container and a physical relationship between the sample and a sample ID thereof is established. However, after the sample ID is read by a bar code reader and the sample is transferred to an analysis-dedicated small sample container, the sample ID and the sample are separated from each other. Following the end of analysis, therefore, the sample ID must be merged with a corresponding analysis result. A read/write-enable ID carrier is provided on an analysis-dedicated sample container into which the sample is pipetted or on a tank for holding the analysis-dedicated sample container. When the sample is pipetted or when the analysis-dedicated sample container is moved, the sample ID and other information are transferred to the read/write-enable ID carrier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/844,384, filed May 13, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus using a samplecontainer, which contains a sample to be analyzed and which is providedwith an information recording medium for recording information regardingthe sample contained in the sample container. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an analysis apparatus including a mechanismfor pipetting (distributively injecting) a sample contained in onesample container into a plurality of sample containers.

2. Description of the Related Art

The state of the related art will be described below in connection with,by way of example, a medical analyzer for handling living body samples,e.g., blood and urine.

In hospitals and inspection centers, a variety of inspections, such asblood inspection, biochemistry inspection and general inspection, arecarried out as clinical inspections by using living body samples, e.g.,blood and urine, as specimen materials. An analyzer used for thoseinspections generally includes a sampler (sample pipetting device) inwhich measurement is automatically performed after the samples are putin a sample rack and then the sample rack is set in place.

In a recent automatic analyzer, each sample container containing asample (specimen material) therein or each sample rack for holdingseveral sample containers together is provided with an informationrecording medium (ID carrier), e.g., a barcode, for recordingidentification information (sample ID) of the sample in the samplecontainer so that the analyzer or an inspector can identify from whomamong patients the relevant sample has been picked. The analyzer or theinspector reads the sample ID from the ID carrier, and judges therelevant sample belongs to whom among patients or what kind of analysisis required.

An actual analysis process is performed in many cases by taking(sampling) a proper amount of a parent sample required for the analysis,which is contained in the sample container, and transferring (pipetting)the picked sample into an analysis-dedicated sample container, which issuitable to perform the analysis process and is called a tube or apalette, smaller than the sample container. In this case, the (child)sample pipetted into the analysis-dedicated sample container issubjected to process steps required for making the analysis, such asmixing with a reagent and a reaction, and then analyzed to obtain ananalysis result.

In the known analyzer, the ID carrier is provided only on the samplecontainer. The reason is that most of ID carriers currently used are inthe form of a read-only barcode. Because a mechanism for preparing andattaching barcodes requires a considerable installation area, it isusual to employ a device dedicated for preparing barcodes and attachingthem to individual sample containers. On the other hand, the sample ispipetted into the analysis-dedicated sample container by using a samplepipetting mechanism provided in the analyzer. To prepare barcodes andattach them to individual analysis-dedicated sample containers,therefore, the mechanism for preparing and attaching barcodes must beprovided for each analyzer. This is however practically difficult torealize due to an increase of the cost.

For that reason, hitherto, the ID of the child sample pipetted from theparent sample is stored in correspondence to the position in eachanalyzer where the sample container containing the child sample islocated. Then, each analyzer merges an analyzed result with the sampleID and reports the analysis result to a host computer.

Such a construction of the known analyzer is described in, e.g., PatentReference 1; JP,B 2-16875.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an analyzer provided with a mechanism for pipetting a samplecontained in one sample container into a plurality of sample containers(child sample containers), but not provided with means for holdingsample identification information for each of the plurality of samplecontainers, there is a possibility that the identification informationof the sample pipetted into each of the plurality of sample containersmay mismatch with the sample identification information recognized bythe analyzer or an operator of the analyzer. In an automatic analyzerfor clinical inspections, particularly, when the analyzer operatorchanges the position at which the child sample container has beenplaced, there is a risk that the proper correspondence between thesample ID and the analysis is lost. Further, in the field of medicalanalysis, a demand for a capability of tracking analysis steps (i.e.,traceability) is lately proposed from FDA (Food and Drug Administration)of the USA, etc. for assurance of the analysis steps. However, thecurrently used apparatus has a difficulty in satisfying such a demand.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ananalysis apparatus by which, even in an analyzer provided with amechanism for pipetting a sample contained in one sample container intoa plurality of sample containers, a mismatch between the samplecontained in each of the plurality of sample containers andidentification information of the sample can be reliably prevented.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is constituted asfollows.

Analysis apparatus of the present invention comprises a first samplecontainer for containing a sample; an information recording mediumprovided on the first sample container and recording informationregarding the sample contained in the first sample container; apipetting mechanism for distributing the sample contained in the firstsample container into a plurality of samples; and a second samplecontainer for containing the sample pipetted by the pipetting mechanism,wherein the second sample container includes an information recordingmedium for recording information regarding the sample contained in thesecond sample container, and the analysis apparatus further comprisesmeans for, when the pipetting mechanism pipettes the sample from thefirst sample container into the second sample container, copying atleast a part of the information recorded in the information recordingmedium provided on the first sample container into the informationrecording medium provided on the second sample container.

The sample is preferably in the form of a liquid or powder so that thesample can be distributively injected by the pipetting mechanism, suchas a pipette. The information recording medium can have any suitableform, but it is preferably in the form of a sheet from the viewpoint ofminimizing a space occupied by the information recording medium. Themeaning of the expression “includes the information recording medium(provided on)” is not limited to the case in which a sheet- or box-likeinformation recording medium is provided directly on the samplecontainer. Any suitable manner can be used to install the informationrecording medium so long as identification information regarding thecontent of the sample container can be read and written from the outsideof the sample container. Conceivable various manners include, forexample, the case of directly attaching the information recording mediumto the container surface, the case of attaching it to a support forholding the sample container in its proper posture, and the case ofembedding it in the support in a concealed condition when viewed fromthe outside. Similarly, various manners such as utilizing light andmagnetism are applicable to read information.

Preferably, the analysis apparatus further comprises recording meansfor, when analysis of the sample has completed, recording an analysisresult of the relevant sample in an information recording medium withinthe analysis apparatus, such as a hard disk, an electronic memory or amagnetic memory, in correspondence to the sample information recorded inthe information recording medium provided on the second samplecontainer. Alternatively, the analysis data made correspondent to thesample information may be sent to a higher-level (host) computer in theanalysis apparatus for collecting and analyzing the analysis result,etc.

The pipetting mechanism may include means for reading at least a part ofthe information recorded in the information recording medium provided onthe first sample container and writing the read information into theinformation recording medium provided on the second sample container,and the analysis apparatus may further comprise control means forcontrolling pipette operation in synchronism with read/write operationfor the information recording medium. The expression “controllingpipette operation in synchronism with read/write operation” means thatthe pipette operation and the read/write operation are executedconcurrently. To that end, the information reading/writing means may bedisposed near a pipetting probe of the pipetting mechanism so thatread/write of information is started at the same time when the probe ismoved to come close to the sample container for pipetting the sample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows movements of a sample and a flow of data,according to an embodiment of the present invention, in analysisapparatus having a read/write-enable ID carrier provided on a samplecontainer, into which the sample is pipetted, during a process fromcarrying of the sample into the analysis apparatus to output of ananalysis result through successive steps;

FIG. 2 schematically shows movements of a sample and a flow of data inknown analysis apparatus during a process from carrying of the sampleinto the analysis apparatus to output of an analysis result throughsuccessive steps;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a possibility that assurance of sampleidentification deteriorates in the known analysis apparatus when aplurality of samples are processed at the same time;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a possibility that assurance of sampleidentification deteriorates in the known analysis apparatus when aplurality of samples are processed at the same time and the contents ofsample analysis and the time required for the analysis process differfrom each other;

FIG. 5 shows an internal construction of a radio ID tag and a dataread/write method; FIG. 6 shows methods for equipping a sample containeror an analysis-dedicated small sample container with theread/write-enable ID carrier;

FIG. 7 shows a tube and a palette generally used as theanalysis-dedicated sample container;

FIG. 8 shows a group management method for sample and sample ID's byusing a sample rack and a read/write-enable ID carrier provided on thesample rack;

FIG. 9 shows a simultaneous transfer method for a sample and a sample IDby using a pipette and an ID reader/writer provided on the pipette;

FIG. 10 schematically shows movements of a sample and a flow of data,according to an expanded version of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, inanalysis apparatus having a read/write-enable ID carrier provided on acontainer holding tank disposed in each step for holding theanalysis-dedicated small sample container, during a process fromcarrying of the sample into the analysis apparatus to output of ananalysis result through successive steps;

FIG. 11 shows a simultaneous transfer method for a sample and a sampleID by using a transportation mechanism and an ID reader/writer providedon the transportation mechanism; and

FIG. 12 shows that a burden imposed on a host can be reduced by storing,in the ID carrier, materials for determining the analysis process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For clearer understanding of the present invention, a known apparatuswill first be briefly described below with reference to FIG. 3. In theknown apparatus for reading a sample ID, while a sample 2 is containedin a sample container 1, the relationship between the sample ID and thesample 2 is physically constant. However, after the sample ID is read bya BCR (barcode reader) 5 and the sample 2 is transferred to ananalysis-dedicated small sample container 4, the sample ID and thesample 2 are separated from each other and processed individually.Following the end of analysis, therefore, the sample ID must be mergedwith a corresponding analysis result. For that reason, complicatedsoftware processing is required to execute prediction control forpredicting, based on the contents of analysis, the throughput ofanalysis apparatus 11 and so on, at what point in time the analysisresult corresponding to the read sample ID is outputted, and to makecorrespondence between the sample ID and the sample 2.

That problem is more significant in the analysis apparatus 11 forprocessing a plurality of samples 2 at the same time. Such an example isshown in FIG. 3. In the example of FIG. 3, a sample ID is read from abarcode 3 attached to the sample container 1 (or a sample rack 7) inwhich a sample 2-A is contained, and the sample 2-A is pipetted into oneanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 (such as a tube or apalette). After the pipetting of the sample 2-A, a sample ID of a sample2-B is likewise read and the sample 2-B is pipetted into anotheranalysis-dedicated small sample container 4. In parallel, succeedinganalysis steps for the sample 2-A is continued. Then, the sample 2-B isalso subjected to similar succeeding analysis steps in a followingrelation to the sample 2-A. When the contents of analysis and theanalysis time are the same for both the sample 2-A and the sample 2-B,the analysis process of the sample 2-A from which the sample ID has beenread earlier than the sample 2-B is completed at an earlier point intime, and an analysis result of the sample 2-A is outputted relativelyearly. On the other hand, the sample ID of the sample 2-A and the sampleID of the sample 2-B are both present in a sample ID table prepared inthe analysis apparatus 11 to store the sample ID's. In order to properlymerge analysis data A and the corresponding sample ID-A, therefore, itis required to keep the ID reading sequence and the analysis sequenceunchanged and to merge the analysis data with the sample ID on the timeserial basis.

While FIG. 3 represents the case in which the contents of analysis andthe time required for the analysis are the same for a plurality ofsamples 2, the process is more complicated when the contents of analysisand the time required for the analysis differ for each of the pluralityof samples 2. As in the case of FIG. 3, the sample ID of the sample 2-Ais read and the sample 2-A is pipetted into one analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4. After the pipetting of the sample 2-A, the sample IDof the sample 2-B is likewise read and the sample 2-B is pipetted intoanother analysis-dedicated small sample container 4. In parallel,succeeding analysis steps for the sample 2-A is continued. However, whenthe sample 2-A requires a longer reaction time than the sample 2-B asshown in FIG. 4, the analysis process of the sample 2-B from which thesample ID has been read later than the sample 2-A is completed earlierthan the completion of analysis of the sample 2-A, and an analysisresult of the sample 2-B is outputted at an earlier point in time. Insuch a case, if the sample ID and the analysis data are merged with eachother on the time serial basis as shown in FIG. 4, a mismatchcombination of the sample ID and the analysis result occurs. For thatreason, management of the process time, prediction control, etc. arerequired for each sample so that a proper combination of the sample IDand the analysis result is ensured.

In view of those situations, the present invention is featured in havingmeans for, when a pipetting mechanism pipettes a sample from a firstsample container (sample container) into a second sample container(analysis-dedicated small sample container), copying at least a part ofinformation recorded in an information recording medium provided on thefirst sample container into an information recording medium provided onthe second sample container.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows movements of asample 2 and a flow of data, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention during a process from carrying of the sample 2 into analysisapparatus 11 to output of an analysis result through successive steps.

In this embodiment, the analysis apparatus 11 includes, as samplecontaining means, a sample container 1 in the form of a test tube or asample rack 7 for containing a sample (specimen material) 2, e.g., bloodor urine, picked from a patient, and an analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer 4 in the form of a tube or a palette for containing a part ofthe sample 2 distributively picked out for analysis in the analysisapparatus 11. A main body of the analysis apparatus 11 comprises acarrying mechanism 6, such as a conveyor or a cylinder, for carrying thesample container 1 containing the sample 2 from the outside, a pipette 8serving as means for distributively injecting the sample 2 from thesample container 1 into the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4,per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 for holding theanalysis-dedicated small sample containers 4 to perform successiveanalysis steps, such as pipetting (distribution injection), mixing,reaction and analysis, for the sample 2 in the analysis apparatus 11,and a transportation mechanism 9, such as a conveyor or a manipulator,for moving the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 to theper-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 in a successive way. Thesecomponents are controlled by a controller unit (not shown). Further, inthis embodiment, the sample container 1 and the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 are each provided with a read/write-enable ID carrier12 for storing information regarding the sample ID of the sample 2 andthe analysis, while the main body of the analysis apparatus 11 includesan ID reader/writer 14 as means for reading and writing the information,such as the sample ID, from and in the read/write-enable ID carrier 12.

The sample container 1 serving as one of the sample containing means inthis embodiment is used to contain blood or urine picked from a patientand is generally in the form of a test tube as shown in FIG. 1. Attachedto the test tube is the read/write-enable ID carrier 12, such as abarcode 3 (see FIG. 2), a two-dimensional code, or a radio ID tag, forholding therein the sample ID as an individual identification code ofthe sample 2 contained in the test tube. In the case of theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 being the barcode 3 or thetwo-dimensional code, it can be directly attached to the samplecontainer 1. Because a seal-like radio ID tag is commercially availableat present, the radio ID tag can also be directly attached to the samplecontainer 1 by using such a seal-like one. Further, as shown in FIG. 5,data in the radio ID tag is rewritable while the radio ID tag is kept inthe attached state. In other words, internal information of the radio IDtag can be updated by rewriting with no need of attaching or attaching anew radio ID tag unlike the case of using the barcode 3. Accordingly,the radio ID tag may be embedded in the sample container 1 itself asshown in FIG. 6. As an alternative, when the radio ID tag cannot bedirectly attached to the sample container 1 due to the problem of, e.g.,cost efficiency, a cover 19 may be fitted to the sample container 1 withthe radio ID tag disposed between the sample container 1 and the cover19. This modification enables the sample container 1 to be equipped withthe radio ID tag even when the radio ID tag cannot be directly attachedto the sample container 1. This modification is further advantageous inpoints of cost and maintenance because the radio ID tag can betransferred for reuse to another new sample container even if the samplecontainer 1 is broken.

When many samples 2 must be carried into the analysis apparatus 11 at atime, a plurality of sample containers 1 are often put in the samplerack 7 and carried into the analysis apparatus 11 together. In such acase, by equipping the sample rack 7 with the read/write-enable IDcarrier 12, those many samples 2 can be managed as a group and the timerequired for reading the sample ID can be cut.

The analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 serving as the other oneof the sample containing means in this embodiment is used to contain apipetted part of the sample 2 when the sample 2 carried into theanalysis apparatus 11 from the outside while being put in the samplecontainer 1 is distributively picked out from the sample container 1 inan amount required for the analysis. The sample 2 is mixed with areagent in the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and thenanalyzed through mixing and reacting steps. The analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 is generally a resin- or plastic-made container inthe form of a tube or a palette as shown in FIG. 7, and is smaller andeasier to handle than the test tube for convenience in analyzing a largenumber of samples 2 in the analysis apparatus 11. The palette is formedto have recesses arrayed in a matrix pattern, in which the samples 2 areto be put, so that a large number of samples 2 can be processed at thesame time. In this embodiment, similarly to the sample container 1, theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 for holding therein the sample ID as anindividual identification code of the contained sample 2 is alsoattached to the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4. As with thesample container 1, the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 can be attachedto the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 by any of the methodsshown in FIG. 6, i.e., attaching, embedding, or a method of fitting thecover 19 to the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and placingthe read/write-enable ID carrier 12 between the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 and the cover 19. The analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer 4 is generally disused after the use unlike the samplecontainer 1, and hence the attaching or embedding method isdisadvantageous in point of cost efficiency because theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 is also disused together with thecontainer at the same time as when the latter is disused. In contrast,the method of fitting the cover 19 to the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 and placing the read/write-enable ID carrier 12between the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and the cover 19enables the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 to be used again, and henceit is advantageous in point of the cost efficiency. The attaching orembedding method may also be employed when the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 is used again after cleaning without being disused.

The pipette 8 serves as means for transferring, to theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4, the sample 2 that has beencarried into the analysis apparatus 11 while being contained in thesample container 1. The pipette 8 is controlled by the controller unitin the analysis apparatus 11 so as to suck, from the sample container 1,a proper amount of the sample 2 required for the analysis and to releasethe sucked sample into the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4in accordance with the sample ID and analysis information, such as thecontents of analysis, the analysis steps, and end-of-step flags, whichhave been read from the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on thesample container 1 by the ID reader/writer 14 described later.

The transportation mechanism 9 serves as means for successively movingthe analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 to the per-stepcontainer holding tanks 15 to 18 described later, and it is generallyconstituted by a conveyor or a manipulator. The transportation mechanism9 is controlled by the controller unit in the analysis apparatus 11 soas to move the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 from one ofthe per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 to another correspondingto the place of the next analysis step in accordance with the sample IDand the analysis information, such as the contents of analysis, theanalysis steps, and end-of-step flags, which have been read from theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the sample container 1 bythe ID reader/writer 14 described later.

The ID reader/writer 14 serves as means for reading and writinginformation, such as the sample ID, from and in the read/write-enable IDcarrier 12. When the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 is in the form ofthe barcode 3 or a two-dimensional code, the barcode reader 5 is used asthe ID reader, while a printer called a barcode labeler 13 (FIG. 2) or atwo-dimensional code labeler is used as the ID writer. Further, when theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 is in the form of a radio ID tag, the IDreader/writer 14 reads and writes information through an antenna in theradio ID tag by using radio waves as a medium, i.e., by transmitting andreceiving radio signals to and from an IC memory in the radio ID tag, asshown in FIG. 5. In that case, therefore, the printer such as thebarcode labeler 13 is not required and the reader and the writer can beconstituted as one common unit. This embodiment employs the radio IDtag. Regardless of any type of the ID reader/writer 14 being used as thereader or the writer, by positioning the ID reader/writer 14 close tothe read/write-enable ID carrier 12, it is possible to read and writedata stored in the read/write-enable ID carrier 12, i.e., theinformation such the sample ID and various items regarding the analysis,via non-contact data communication means using light, magnetism, orradio waves.

In the present invention, read and write of the sample ID from and inthe read/write-enable ID carrier 12 are performed at the time when thesample 2 is distributively injected from the sample container 1 into theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4, or/and when theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 is moved through theper-step container holding tanks 15 to 18, described below, for thesuccessive analysis steps. The pipette 8 and the transportationmechanism 9 are required respectively to have the functions ofdistributively injecting the sample 2 and moving the analysis-dedicatedsmall sample container 4. For that purpose, the pipette 8 must be movedto come close to the sample container 1 when it sucks the sample 2, andto come close to the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 when itreleases the sample 2. Also, the transportation mechanism 9 must bebrought into contact with the analysis-dedicated small sample container4 to transport the same. Taking into account the above feature, in thepresent invention, the ID reader/writer 14 is disposed integrally withthe pipette 8 or/and the transportation mechanism 9 to perform pipetteoperation control of the sample 2 and read/write control of the sampleID in one process or/and to perform movement control of theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and read/write control ofthe sample ID in one process. As a result, not only the control processbut also the structure of the analysis apparatus 11 can be simplifiedand a space required for installation of the analysis apparatus 11 canbe reduced.

The per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 serve as means for holdingthe analysis-dedicated small sample containers 4 to perform successiveanalysis steps, such as pipetting (distribution injection), mixing,reaction and analysis, for the sample 2 in the analysis apparatus 11.The per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 are disposed respectivelycorresponding to the process steps of the analysis, such as pipetting,mixing, reaction and analysis, in some cases. In other cases, severalones of the analysis steps are performed in the same tank. Thisembodiment is constructed such that a pipetting-step container holdingtank 15, a mixing-step container holding tank 16, a reaction-stepcontainer holding tank 17, and an analysis-step container holding tank18 are disposed in a one-to-one relation to the analysis steps ofpipetting, mixing, reaction and analysis. Generally, these containerholding tanks 15 to 18 each have not only the function of holding thecontainers, but also the temperature management function, the stirringfunction, etc.

The carrying mechanism 6 serves as means for carrying the samplecontainer 1 containing the sample 2 from the outside, and it isgenerally constituted by a conveyor or a cylinder.

The foregoing is the construction (components and mechanisms) necessaryfor implementing the present invention.

A method of transferring the sample ID in the analysis apparatus 11according to this embodiment will be described below.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sample 2, e.g., blood or urine, picked from apatient is first poured into the sample container 1 such as a test tube.The sample container 1 includes the read/write-enable ID carrier 12embedded in it. The read/write-enable ID carrier 12 embedded in thesample container 1 stores the sample ID as an individual identificationcode of the sample 2 contained in the sample container 1, informationnecessary for determining the contents of analysis process, such asinspection information, inspection conditions, inspection steps, andend-of-step flags, and, if necessary, information regarding the patient,such as the patient name. Those items of information are written by theID reader/writer 14 into the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 of thesample container 1 at the time when the sample 2 is picked from thepatient.

To transport a plurality of samples 2 to the analysis apparatus 11 atthe same time, a plurality of sample containers 1 are often placed inthe sample rack 7 and carried together into the analysis apparatus 11 bytransporting the sample rack 7. In such a case, instead of providing theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 on the sample container 1 as shown onthe left side of FIG. 8, the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 is providedon the sample rack 7 as shown on the right side of FIG. 8 so that theplurality of samples 2 are managed as a group for each sample rack 7.The read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the sample rack 7 storeswhat sample 2 is placed in which one of spaces of the sample rack 7 forthe group management.

The sample container 1 or the sample rack 7 including the samplecontainers 1 placed therein is carried into the analysis apparatus 11 bythe carrying mechanism 6. Generally, the carrying mechanism 6 isconstituted as a cylinder when the sample container 1 in the form of atest tube is carried, and as a conveyor when the sample rack 7 iscarried.

After the sample container 1 or the sample rack 7 including the samplecontainers 1 placed therein has been carried, the analysis apparatus 11starts the analysis process. First, from the read/write-enable IDcarrier 12 provided on the sample container 1 or the sample rack 7, thesample ID of the carried sample 2 and the analysis information, such asinspection information, inspection conditions, inspection steps, andend-of-step flags, are read by the ID reader/writer 14 to determine towhom the carried sample 2 belongs, what kind of inspection is required,and what kind of analysis is required for the inspection. Based on suchinformation, the controller unit in the analysis apparatus 11 controlsthe pipette 8 so as to suck a proper amount of the sample 2 from thesample container 1 and to release the sucked sample 2 into theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 that has been set beforehandin the pipetting-step container holding tank 15 within the analysisapparatus 11.

At the time of releasing the sucked sample 2 into the analysis-dedicatedsmall sample container 4, the sample ID and the analysis informationboth read from the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on thesample container 1 at the time of sucking the sample 2 are written bythe ID reader/writer 14 into the read/write-enable ID carrier 12provided on the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4.

In this embodiment, read and write of the sample ID from and in theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 are performed at the time when thesample 2 is distributively injected from the sample container 1 into theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4. As mentioned above, thepipette 8 is used for the distribution injection of the sample 2. Forthat purpose, the pipette 8 must be moved to come close to the samplecontainer 1 when it sucks the sample 2, and to come close to theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 when it releases the sample2. Also, read and write of the sample ID and the analysis informationfrom and in the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 are performed using theID reader/writer 14. For that purpose, the ID reader/writer 14 must bemoved to come close to the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided onthe sample container 1 or the analysis-dedicated small sample container4. Taking into account the above feature, in this embodiment, the IDreader/writer 14 is disposed integrally with each of the pipette 8 andthe transportation mechanism 9. With such an integral construction, asshown in FIG. 9, at the same time when the pipette 8 is moved to comeclose to the sample container 1 when it sucks the sample 2 from thesample container 1, the ID reader/writer 14 integral with the pipette 8reads the sample ID and the analysis information from theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the sample container 1.Further, at the same time when the pipette 8 releases the sucked sample2 into the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4, the IDreader/writer 14 integral with the pipette 8 writes the sample ID andthe analysis information, which have been read in the above step, in theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4. Thus, the pipette operation control for the sample 2and the read/write control of the sample ID are integrated, while thecontrol of the transportation mechanism 9 for moving theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and the read/write controlof the sample ID are integrated. As a result, not only the controlprocess but also the structure of the analysis apparatus 11 can besimplified and a space required for installation of the analysisapparatus 11 can be reduced. Further, because the ID reader/writer 14 isdirected toward the sample container 1 as a target of the sample suckingor the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 as a target of thesample releasing whenever each of different samples 2 is sucked andreleased, the read and the write can be reliably performed to avoid,e.g., an error that the read sample ID is in fact an erroneous ID readfrom the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the samplecontainer 1 adjacent to the corresponding one.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the subsequent mixing and reactionsteps are performed in the same analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer 4, and hence read of the sample ID from the read/write-enableID carrier 12 is not needed any more after the pipetting of the sample.In a final analysis step of outputting an analysis result, the sample IDand the analysis information are read again from the read/write-enableID carrier 12 provided on the analysis-dedicated small sample container4. The sample ID read from the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 providedon the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4, which has beensubjected to the analysis process, is merged with the analysis dataobtained in the analysis process. Merged data is then outputted as theanalysis result.

By employing the method described above, since each sample 2 in theanalysis apparatus 11 and the sample ID as an individual identificationcode of the relevant sample 2 are always held in a physically combinedstate, a possibility of the sequence in read of the sample ID beingmismatched with the sequence in output of the analysis result iseliminated even when a plurality of samples are processed at the sametime. Further, since the output of the analysis data and the read of thesample ID are performed at the same timing from the same container, thecombination of the sample ID and the analysis data is surely preventedfrom being brought into an improper state, and assurance of sampleidentification can be increased. Moreover, since the sample ID read atthe time of completion of the analysis always represents the ID of thesample for which the analysis has been completed at that time, therequired software processing is simple and hence complicated processing,such as prediction control, is no longer required even when the numberof the samples 2 to be processed at the same time or processed indifferent ways is increased.

FIG. 10 schematically shows an expanded version of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1. The embodiment of FIG. 10 represents analysis apparatushaving the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on each of thepipetting-step container holding tank 15, the mixing-step containerholding tank 16, the reaction-step container holding tank 17, and theanalysis-step container holding tank 18, which are disposed in aone-to-one relation to the analysis steps, instead of providing theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 on the analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer 4. A method of transferring the sample ID in the analysisapparatus 11 will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, the sample 2, e.g., blood or urine, picked from apatient is first poured into the sample container 1 such as a test tube.The sample container 1 includes the read/write-enable ID carrier 12embedded in it. The read/write-enable ID carrier 12 embedded in thesample container 1 stores the sample ID as an individual identificationcode of the sample 2 contained in the sample container 1, the analysisinformation, and so on. Those items of information are written by the IDreader/writer 14 into the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 embedded inthe sample container 1 at the time when the sample 2 is picked from thepatient.

The sample container 1 or the sample rack 7 including the samplecontainers 1 placed therein is carried into the analysis apparatus 11 bythe carrying mechanism 6. As in the embodiment described above, thecarrying mechanism 6 is constituted as a cylinder when the samplecontainer 1 in the form of a test tube is carried, and as a conveyorwhen the sample rack 7 is carried.

After the sample container 1 or the sample rack 7 including the samplecontainers 1 placed therein has been carried, the analysis apparatus 11starts the analysis process. First, from the read/write-enable IDcarrier 12 provided on the sample container 1 or the sample rack 7, thesample ID of the carried sample 2 and the analysis information, such asinspection information, inspection conditions, inspection steps, andend-of-step flags, are read by the ID reader/writer 14 to determine towhom the carried sample 2 belongs, what kind of inspection is required,and what kind of analysis is required for the inspection. Based on suchinformation, the controller unit in the analysis apparatus 11 controlsthe pipette 8 so as to suck a proper amount of the sample 2 from thesample container 1 and to release the sucked sample 2 into theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 that has been set beforehandin the pipetting-step container holding tank 15 within the analysisapparatus 11.

At the time of releasing the sucked sample 2 into the analysis-dedicatedsmall sample container 4, the sample ID and the analysis informationboth read from the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on thesample container 1 at the time of sucking the sample 2 are written bythe ID reader/writer 14, which is provided on the pipette 8, into theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the pipetting-step containerholding tank 15 holding the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4into which the sample is released.

Subsequently, to mix a reagent with the sample 2, the analysis-dedicatedsmall sample container 4 containing the sample 2 to be analyzed is movedto the mixing-step container holding tank 16 by the transportationmechanism 9. The transportation mechanism 9 serves as means forsuccessively moving the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 tothe per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18, and it is generallyconstituted by a conveyor or a manipulator. The transportation mechanism9 is controlled by the controller unit in the analysis apparatus 11 soas to move the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 from one ofthe per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18 to another correspondingto the place of the next analysis step in accordance with the sample IDand the analysis information, such as the contents of analysis, theanalysis steps, and end-of-step flags, which have been read from theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 by the ID reader/writer 14. In thisembodiment, like the pipette 8, the transportation mechanism 9 is alsoequipped integrally with the ID reader/writer 14. Accordingly, as shownin FIG. 11, at the time when the transportation mechanism 9 comes closeto the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 to move it, the IDreader/writer 14 provided on the transportation mechanism 9 reads thesample ID and the analysis information regarding the sample 2, which iscontained in the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 held in thepipetting-step container holding tank 15, from the read/write-enable IDcarrier 12 provided on the pipetting-step container holding tank 15holding the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 at that time.Thereafter, at the same time when the transportation mechanism 9transports the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4 and comesclose to the mixing-step container holding tank 16 as a next containerholding tank, the ID reader/writer 14 provided on the transportationmechanism 9 writes the sample ID and the analysis information, whichhave been read in the above step from the read/write-enable ID carrier12 provided on the pipetting-step container holding tank 15, into theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the mixing-step containerholding tank 16. The analysis-dedicated small sample container 4transported by the transportation mechanism 9 is then held in themixing-step container holding tank 16. Subsequently, whenever theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 is transported from themixing-step container holding tank 16 to the reaction-step containerholding tank 17, and then from the reaction-step container holding tank17 to the analysis-step container holding tank 18 to perform thesubsequent steps of mixing, reaction and analysis, the sample ID and theanalysis information are transferred in a similar manner. Finally, whenthe analysis is completed in the analysis-step container holding tank 18and analysis data is outputted, the sample ID and the analysisinformation are read by the ID reader/writer 14 from theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the analysis-step containerholding tank 18 and are merged with the obtained analysis data. Mergeddata is then outputted as the analysis result. With the embodiment shownin FIG. 10, since the transportation mechanism 9 is equipped with the IDreader/writer 14, when the analysis-dedicated small sample container 4is removed from the analysis-step container holding tank 18 after thecompletion of the analysis, the ID reader/writer 14 provided on thetransportation mechanism 9 reads the sample ID from theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 provided on the analysis-step containerholding tank 18 and presents the read sample ID as the sample ID for theanalysis data outputted at that time. The above-described method isadvantageous in that since read of the sample ID at the time ofcompletion of the analysis is made by the ID reader/writer 14 providedon the transportation mechanism 9, there is no need of separatelyproviding the ID reader/writer 14 for reading the sample ID when theanalysis result is outputted, and hence the number of the IDreaders/writers 14 required can be minimized.

By employing the method described above, as in the case of equipping theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 with the read/write-enableID carrier 12, since the sample 2 and the sample ID are always held in aphysically combined state, a possibility of the sequence in read of thesample ID being mismatched with the sequence in output of the analysisresult is eliminated even when a plurality of samples 2 are processed atthe same time. Further, since the output of the analysis data and theread of the sample ID are performed at the same timing from the samecontainer, the combination of the sample ID and the analysis data issurely prevented from being brought into an improper state, andassurance of sample identification can be increased. Moreover, since thesample ID read at the time of completion of the analysis alwaysrepresents the ID of the sample 2 for which the analysis has beencompleted at that time, the required software processing is simple andhence complicated processing, such as prediction control, is no longerrequired even when the number of the samples 2 to be processed at thesame time or processed in different ways is increased.

This embodiment differs from the case of equipping theanalysis-dedicated small sample container 4 with the read/write-enableID carrier 12 in that, since the read/write-enable ID carrier 12 isprovided on each of the per-step container holding tanks 15 to 18fixedly installed in the analysis apparatus 11 instead of providing theread/write-enable ID carrier 12 on the analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer 4 which is usually disused after one use, the number of theread/write-enable ID carriers 12 used can be reduced and the cost can becut as compared with the case of equipping the analysis-dedicated smallsample container 4 with the read/write-enable ID carrier 12.

The present invention has the following advantages. Since each sample inthe analysis apparatus and the sample ID as an individual identificationcode of the relevant sample are always held in a physically combinedstate, a possibility of the sequence in read of the sample ID beingmismatched with the sequence in output of the analysis result iseliminated even when a plurality of samples are processed at the sametime. Further, since each pair of the sample ID and the sample 2 areheld in a physically combined state until the end of the analysisprocess and the output of the analysis data and the read of the sampleID are performed at the same timing from the same container, thecombination of the sample ID and the analysis data is surely preventedfrom being brought into an improper state, and assurance of sampleidentification can be increased. Moreover, since the sample ID read atthe time of completion of the analysis always represents. the ID of thesample for which the analysis has been completed at that time, therequired software processing is simple and hence complicated processing,such as prediction control, is no longer required even when the numberof samples to be processed at the same time or processed in differentways is increased.

Also, by providing the read/write-enable ID carrier not on theanalysis-dedicated small sample container, but on each of the per-stepcontainer holding tanks for holding the analysis-dedicated small samplecontainers to perform the respective steps of the analysis, assurance ofsample identification can be increased as in the case of providing theread/write-enable ID carrier on the analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer. In addition, since the read/write-enable ID carrier isprovided on each of the per-step container holding tanks fixedlyinstalled in the analysis apparatus instead of providing theread/write-enable ID carrier on the analysis-dedicated small samplecontainer which is usually disused after one use, the number of theread/write-enable ID carriers used can be reduced and the cost can becut as compared with the case of equipping the analysis-dedicated smallsample container with the read/write-enable ID carrier.

Furthermore, when a radio ID tag or a two-dimensional code having alarger data storage capacity than a barcode is used as theread/write-enable ID carrier, various additional items of information(such as the sample (blood) taking date, the patient name, the contentsof analysis required for the sample, information regarding the analysisprocess (recipe), and the analysis result) can also be recorded in theread/write-enable ID carrier, i.e., on the ID label side where only theinformation of the sample ID has been recorded in the past. In theconventional case of recording only the sample ID in the barcode,information necessary for executing the analysis must be inquired to thehost computer based on the read sample ID whenever occasion demands. Incontrast, in the analysis apparatus of the present invention wherein thevarious additional items of information are recorded on the sample sideand the sample ID and the process information regarding the relevantsample are read from the read/write-enable ID carrier prior to each ofthe analysis steps, an inquiry to the host computer is just required atthe start and end of the analysis process, and each analysis step can beperformed in a standalone processing manner. It is therefore possible toreduce communication frequency with respect to the host computer and tolessen the carry of the host computer.

1. An analysis apparatus comprising: an analysis for containing asample; an information recording medium provided on said first samplecontainer and recording information regarding the sample contained insaid first sample container; a pipetting mechanism for distributing thesample contained in said first sample container into a second samplecontainer; and a transportation mechanism for transporting said secondsample container, wherein said second sample container includes aninformation recording medium into which information can be read andwritten in a non-contact way, being arranged at each of per-stepcontainer holding tanks, said analysis apparatus further comprising acopying mechanism for copying at least a part of the informationrecorded in said information recording medium provided on said firstsample container into a recording medium provided on said each of saidper-step container holding tanks on which said second sample containerare arranged, when said pipetting mechanism pipettes the same from saidfirst sample container into said second sample container, and saidinformation recorded in said information recording medium provided onsaid first sample container concerns the sample contained in said firstsample container, said copying mechanism including a function forcopying at least a part of the information regarding the samplecontained in said second sample container between information recordingmediums provided on said pre-step container holding tanks, when saidtransportation mechanism transports said second sample container betweensaid per-step container holding tanks.
 2. The analysis apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said per-step container holding tanksinclude at least one of a pipetting-step container holding tank, amixing-step container holding tank, a reaction-step container holdingtank, and an analysis-step container holding tank.
 3. The analysisapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said per-step container holdingtanks include one, of functions of a temperature management function anda stirring function.